"A must read for anyone who wants to understand the complicated situation of Russian Jews and the warring impulses of those who leave Russian soil, those who return, and those who choose to remain there and endure." — Jewish Forward

The love-hate relationship between Jews and Russians dates back to the early 19th century as is testified by four essays in this issue, looking at this ages-old Russian problem from different angles.

Included are:

Vassily GROSSMAN's The Commissar, the story that made him famous; Ludmila ULITSKAYA's Barley Soup and March 1953 — repercussions of the "Jewish Doctors' plot"; Nina SADUR's Irons and Diamonds about today's emigrants.